The Opinionated Knitter [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Zimmermann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2005

"Many knitters consider the designs in Elizabeth Zimmermann's 'Newsletters' to be timeless, from her first Fair Isle issue in 1958 to the now classic Baby Surprise Jacket in 1968. Long time fans will welcome these old friends and new knitters may discover the freedom and creativity that Elizabeth's patterns encourage." 35 designs for hats, coats, sweaters, stockings, tights and more. Over 75 clor photos plus heretofore unpublished excerpts from Elizabeth's journals. The woman was a genius, there's no other word for it, and this is destined to become another Zimmermann classic, a must-have addition to any knitter's library.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Schoolhouse Press; 1ST edition (January 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0942018265
• ISBN-13: 978-0942018264
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

115 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Surprise Jacket Revealed, February 28, 2006

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Opinionated Knitter (Hardcover)

Good things about "The Opinionated Knitter"

1. The "lost manuscripts" are assembled for fans of Mrs. Zimmermann's excellent writings on knitting
2. There are patterns you've probably not seen before unless you were a long-time subscriber to the Woolgathering Newsletter, such as a baby blanket, a saddle shoulder sweater knit in the round and some hats and mittens.
3. There is the full set of baby and adult surprise jackets, kimono-style garter stitch jackets knit as an ungainly object that magically assembles itself into an attractive and utilitarian garment.
4. The equally good children's "Tomten" or hooded jacket is in here.
5. There are a few more snippets of Elizabeth's autobiographical musings, not much but a bit more to add to the successful "Knitting Around."

Bad things
1. Lots of photos, but not professional looking. (minor quib)
2. Some of the quaintly typed newsletters reproduced as is, so the text is somewhat mixed.
3. The patterns were done in the pre-charting age, so they are written out in some cases and not charted. This bothers some knitters.
4. The patterns are a bit homespun-looking. Personally, I love the rustic style. But this is not gourmet, fashion knitting. Some people find that is not their cup of tea. This is for the ski-sweater, manly utilitarian and baby knitter.

Enjoy!

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just when I thought I had all her books...., April 22, 2006

By 

Janet Dwyer (Hastings, NE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Opinionated Knitter (Hardcover)

If you are new to knitting and don't know EZ, this book is not the place to start. However, I strongly urge you to start buying all her books, read them cover-to-cover (knitting all the while) and when you know her better, then buy this book and get to know her a little more. In other books, she refers back to these "early years" of her first newsletters/wool gatherings. I had often wished that I had started knitting back then and could see the old newsletters. I even bid on some on ebay!! No need now, because they are here, in all their homespun, original typed glory. Seeing her pencilled-in corrections makes me feel like the recipient of a personal letter, like hearing from a grandmother or aunt who helps with my knitting. Thanks, Meg, for putting all this together, and yes, I'm sure she loves the title.

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lost Manuscripts, August 15, 2005

By 

Doris Moore - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Opinionated Knitter (Hardcover)

The most influential knitter of the 20th century ironically is heard from at the earlier part of her career. These newsletters predate "Knitting Without Tears", "Knitter's Almanac", & etc. I enjoyed the facsimile reproductions. We get a glimpse of her groping towards eps, instead of the fully armed version in her later writings.

Of course, we have patterns in the EZ manner. Allowing the knitter to make choices & decisions. While EZ is opionated in her knitting philosophy she is empowering to the knitter.

I hope members of the "Stitch & Bitch" crowd discover EZ. Imagine what they could accomplish is they loosened their death grip on line by line, stitch by stitch, place marker, make an increase this way, type of boring patterns.

EZ had an interesting life and I enjoy the excerpts from her journals. We get to know EZ not only as a wonderful knitting teacher but a warm, friendly, funny, woman.

As always these days, I think hardcover books are overpriced. I would love to see EZ's books in digital format.